Posted by:
bona dea
(
)
Date: September 29, 2010 09:09PM
I took a course in Catholicism years ago and it was explained to me that the only person who can consecrate the host is a priest. That is the whole point of being a priest and what sets him apart. The communion ceremeony is also the whole point of the mass. A deacon can do everything else and even preside over a mass providing the host has already been consecrated by a priest.This is done on occasion when a priest is not available. MAny other sacraments can be done by non priests such as baptism. In fact, in emergencies, non-Catholics can baptize. My sister is a nurse and when she worked with newborns, she had to learn the formula as part of her instruction as did all nurses.This was at a Mormon nursing school, BTW. If things were changed in the Catholic church to the point that a woman or other non priest could consecrate the host, there would be no need for priests per se and the church would no longer be recognized as Catholic. The only way women would be allowed to preside over communion would be if they were ordained priests as they are in the Episcopal church
Priests are also responsible for daily recitation of the principal and minor offices of the Liturgy of the Hours.[27] Catholic priests are the only ministers of the Sacrament of Penance[28] and Anointing of the Sick.[29] They are the only ones who can celebrate the Eucharist in the Catholic Church [30] (not to be confused with distribution of Communion by deacons or extraordinary ministers). They, together with deacons, are the ordinary ministers of Baptism and witnesses to Holy Matrimony
Here is a section from Wiki describing the duties of priests.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/29/2010 09:18PM by bona dea.